UNESCO holds a workshop to promote freedom of opinion in Iraq 

Baghdad-INA-Harith Al-Abadi

UNESCO, in cooperation with Interpol, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Communications and Media Commission, today, Tuesday, launched a training workshop in Baghdad to focus on the concepts of freedom of opinion and expression in Iraq.  
The Director of UNESCO's Communication and Information Program in Iraq, Diaa Al-Saray, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the project includes intensive (online) training for a period of five weeks for the Ministry of the Interior's officers and ranks, in addition to judges and bodies supporting the judiciary and media and communications organizers in the Journalists Syndicate. The Communications Commission, press and media academies, and human rights defenders.
He continued, "The training curriculum was developed with joint efforts for a year between UNESCO and international institutions with the aim of shedding light on the latest updates to freedom of expression, its laws and procedures, and local and international adaptations related to freedom of expression."
He pointed out, "There are international channels that can help the journalist who is subjected to a violation of his rights, stressing that there are efforts to involve a larger number of officers and employees of the Ministry of Interior in the first stage."
He pointed out that "work in the course will continue for a year online via the Internet and will include a set of tests to obtain a training certificate, which is an important step in the field of Iraq's response to the comprehensive international review and the Geneva recommendations in 2019, which will return soon." 
In turn, the head of the Security Media Cell, Director of Relations and Information of the Ministry of Interior, Major General Saad Maan, confirmed to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the training course will last 5 weeks and will focus on the concepts of freedom of expression and its legal adaptation to international and local laws and the safety and protection of journalists." 

He added, "The Ministry of Interior will involve a large number of its officers and affiliates in this training program, which will provide sufficient information for officers and affiliates about the mechanism of dealing with media professionals and journalists in providing appropriate climates for obtaining information," noting that "the course will include useful lectures, as well as identifying standards The common global between media professionals, journalists and legal personnel of the Ministry of Interior. 

For his part, the Director of the Audiovisual Organization in the Media and Communications Commission, Hussein Zamel, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the educational course will start from UNESCO, prepared by the International Police Organization.".

 He added, "The Media and Communications Commission, UNESCO, the Baghdad office and the Ministry of Interior will provide the atmosphere to participate in the training course, which will provide abundant information for journalists and media professionals in the right to obtain information and press safety, pointing out that" the course will include security leaders and judicial institutions on combating impunity from Punishment for the killers of journalists.”.

He stressed that “the training workshop will, in general, provide a sound environment for the journalist with the right to expression and the right to obtain information.”